Lakefront development concepts presented

The concept design for Rotorua’s lakefront development features a curved 600m boardwalk that reflects the lake’s scalloped shoreline and represents the footsteps of Te Arawa’ ancestors.

Two tukutuku bridges “stitched” into the land will provide access to the central part of the boardwalk which will be 5 metres wide and will sit higher than the current lake edge. It will provide a focal point, making the most of views out to Mokoia Island and beyond.

The concept design was revealed to elected members in a presentation at today’s Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee hui/meeting.

Also proposed:

Te Arawa waka moves to yacht club end of lakefront with potential to build a waka storage facility;

New building replacing the current makeshift ticketing offices used by lakefront operators;

Scout hall is removed, providing new view shaft;

Carparking is moved away from lake edge to near market space with some disability parking retained at lake edge;

New toilet facilities near carparking area;

Revamped playground;

Village Green retained.

Click on the image below to view a bigger version of what’s proposed at the lakefront

Cultural design co-ordinator Karl Johnstone explained how the concept would incorporate Te Arawa narratives, celebrating the past and future and connecting land to lake, while designer David Irwin of Isthmus explained the design elements.

The designs are at concept only stage right now and need to be further developed, with input from key stakeholders, which means there could be changes to ensure the design works for everyone. Sustainability and biodiversity are key considerations.

Sir Bob Harvey, who chairs the project’s strategic advisory group, said in his view it was an international design and a national tribute to Rotorua and the lakefront. It would be something locals could be very proud of and would preserve the natural beauty of the area. He said the aim was to ensure that the enhancements were “gently” placed on to the lakefront and that the project would enhance the area for future generations.

The committee was told engagement and consultation with key stakeholders including iwi, Ohinemutu residents and lakefront operators was continuing and application to the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund for matched funding of $19.9m to deliver the project had been lodged.

The fund allocated $811,000 for development of business cases for proposed lakefront and forest developments to enable applications for funding to deliver the projects, which are included in Council’s 2018-28 Long-term Plan (see pages 31-33).

Click on THIS LINK to view the slides from today’s lakefront development presentation which provide information on what has been done so far, images of waterfront developments in other provincial centres (Napier, Whangarei, Gisborne, New Plymouth and Tauranga), images relating to the concept design and next steps for the project.

Proposed reserve management plan amendments

A second item related to the lakefront sought a recommendation from the committee to go to public consultation on changes to the existing Reserve Management Plan for the lakefront.

The amendments are supported by the Ngati Whakaue Gifted Reserves Protocol Committee and are required to enable the proposed development to occur.

The committee heard that the current plan was extremely prescriptive and did not allow for any flexibility.

Following discussion the committee agreed it will recommend to the Full Council that it adopts the proposed amendments for public consultation, once they have been reviewed by the Resource Management Act Policy Committee.

The committee will also recommend that the panel to hear submissions on the proposed amendments consist of portfolio leads councillors Karen Hunt, Charles Sturt, Tania Tapsell and Dave Donaldson, along with a member of Te Tatau o Te Arawa and a member from the Rotorua Lakes Community Board.

The requirement for the RMA Policy Committee to review the amendments and having Te Tatau and Lakes community board members on the hearings committee were added to the recommendations following discussion.

A full rating review has been requested by some councillors and community board members and it was determined this would be considered following adoption of the Long-term Plan and not for the same year as revaluations came into effect (2018/19 financial year).

A rating review would review the allocation or distribution of rates, what share each ratepayer should pay. It would not determine how much should be collected in rates – that is part of Council’s budgeting process.

Any changes to the rating framework would require formal consultation and would be part of annual plan consultation as an amendment to the Long-term Plan, the Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee was told.

A discovery phase with focus groups is proposed to gain an understanding of any issues, challenges and perceived unfairness in the current regime from various sector groups. Meanwhile, elected members would agree on and establish the principles for a good rating framework against which they would then assess the feedback from the focus groups to develop a proposal for wider public consultation.

The last rating review saw Council change from rating based on land value to capital value and Council has progressively removed or, in the case of the business differential, significantly reduce differentials that were used to correct imbalances/deficiencies with land value allocation, for example farm land values.

The recommendation to adopt the rates review process was adopted by the committee by majority vote, with councillors Rob Kent, Tania Tapsell and Mark Gould and Rotorua Lakes Community Board chair Phill Thomass recording their votes against. The recommendation will go to the Full Council at the end of the month for a final decision.

Reconsideration of proposed speed limit changes for Hamurana Road have seen the original proposed speeds approved by the committee.

The committee was told council officers had conducted a further review, as requested, and having taken into consideration discussions with the Rotorua Lakes Community Board and the Hamurana Residents Association, confirmed their earlier recommendation.

The proposed changes, which will now to go to the Full Council for final approval, are: